This is really bad news, it was the largest independently run, not-for-profit gig venue in London, but it looks like it is no more.... Seen many great artists there in the last couple of years...Luciano, Abyssinians, Johnny Clarke etc etc etc..

But now its just the commercial places like the Islington 'Carling' Academy, where tonight I'm going to see The Skatalites , that are left..

My guess is that they would have struggled to attract the big name promoters on a regular basis because despite the fact it was a very nice venue the transpot links are terrible. Plus of course it was in the middle of Hackney which may have scared the more sensitive off.

It always seemed strange to have a big venue miles from the nearest tube station.

A real pity all the same though as Hackney deserved the break, it was a nice venue and there were some great concerts there...
I saw The Abbysinians, Johnny Clarke, Sizzla, Sanchez, Horace Andy, Junior Murvin etc etc and it was always good...